PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat believes that the real challenge in being the Chief Justice lies in the proper execution of her role and responsibilities, and not her gender.
Tengku Maimun said she does not feel any pressure in being the country’s first female chief justice, and that her gender should not define her.
"Honestly, I do not feel pressured. To me, gender is not a factor at all.
"The real pressure is the job itself which requires a great amount of responsibility. Whether female or male, that responsibility should be carried out well," she told reporters in her first press conference as chief justice.
A good judge, she said, has to remember and uphold their oath of office as well as code of conduct.
"To me, good judges are those who are always be reminded of their oath of office, always reminded of the code of conduct and of course, other basic principles as stated in the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct.
"A good judge must give everyone the right to be heard in court, be courteous and if you need criticise lawyers, do it courteously.
"Be fair to everybody. Treat the lawyers alike, whether senior or junior," she added.
On what she foresees as her main challenge, the 60-year-old said it would be maintaining public confidence and managing the negative perception of the people on the country's judiciary system.
"Social media is one of the reasons which contributes to the negative perception of the judiciary system. This is because sometimes people tend to write on matters they don't have actual knowledge of and this goes viral," she said.
Tengku Maimun also urged the media to play their role by accurately reporting cases and legal proceedings, especially cases which garner great public interest.
"For public interest cases, what we do now is prepare a summary of the judgment so that it is easier to understand and report accurately," she said.
Asked on the reforms she would undertake as the new chief justice, she said she would carry on the reforms mooted by her predecessor.
"It is too soon for me to say what reforms will be undertaken as I just took office. However, the reforms started by Tan Sri Richard (Malanjum) will be continued, with collective discussions and decisions of President of the Court of Appeal Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop, Chief Judges of High Court of Malaya and Sabah and Sarawak, Zaharah Ibrahim and David Wong Dak Wah.
"So before I say anything, I would need to sit with them and discuss," she said.
Tengku Maimun also denied allegations of abuse of power by past chief justices in the appointments of judges, especially in the lower courts, including her, who allegedly received such orders.
"What you have heard about me getting the order is not true, and if I may say the transfer of judges especially in the lower courts is not in the job scope of the chief justice.
"The matter of transfers especially among officers in the lower court, that is the matter between the Chief Registrar after consulting with the Chief Judge of Malaya or Sabah and Sarawak, so the chief justice has got nothing to do with the transfers," she said.
Asked if her dissenting judgments had ascended her to the top position, she said that is not a criteria set in the appointment of a chief justice, or to be ascended to a high position.
On how she manages her work-life balance, she thanked her supportive husband for always encouraging her.